Once Talise was back at her apartment, she was able to set up a video chat with Sinclaire. She couldn’t wait to give her sister the details of her crazy weekend.
“Let me ask you this. If Richard wasn’t around, would you give Aaron another chance?” Sinclaire quizzed.
Shaking her head, Talise didn’t have to think over the answer. “This isn’t about the minister. It’s about Ace devastating and deserting me. He didn’t look back.”
“Until now. He’s a man. They’re slow learners, not only in the head department, but with their hearts too.”
“So you’re pulling for Ace?” Talise couldn’t believe her.
Sinclaire gave her a tender smile. “I’m pulling for you.”
Sometimes her sister’s wisdom was mind-boggling. Their video chat ended too soon but with a much-needed prayer. Afterward, Talise kept praying. Her tears mingled with each petition, asking God to stop the hurting that resurfaced when Ace arrived. When she finished, one thing came to mind: two men holding her hands at the hospital.
A few evenings later, she and Gabrielle had dinner at Church, a popular neighborhood establishment near Fenway Park. One side was the restaurant; the other side was a club.
As Talise savored the taste of her veggie burger sliders with goat cheese and pumpkin seed pesto, Gabrielle enjoyed the fried chicken pot pie dumplings with cranberry chutney.
“I’ll tell you, Gabrielle, either it was my hormones or the baby’s keen development, but I don’t recall the baby kicking so much as when Ace was around.”
“Doesn’t your book say the baby will begin to recognize voices? Maybe he knew his dad was talking.”
Talise stuck out her tongue. “One, the doctor doesn’t have to tell me. I know I’m having a girl. Plus, I’m just barely twenty-five weeks and that’s not supposed to happen until week twenty-seven.”
Gabrielle waved her hand in the air. “Regardless of whether it’s a boy or a girl, your baby is ahead of his or her time.” She scrunched up her nose.
“I’m taking a poll. What would you do in my shoes?”
Swallowing, Gabrielle took a sip of her tea. “I like happy endings. Remember, I started a romantic handbook, of sorts. The man drove twenty plus hours to see you, left you money, and attempted to apologize. That’s a noteworthy entry in my book.”
Gabrielle added, “To me it sounds like when the prodigal son came to himself. I think Ace came to himself after wasting time being a lousy boyfriend. That’s a fairy-tale ending.”
“The past six months have been anything but a fairy tale. It’s been a constant rerun of a horror movie.”
“I know. I just believe everyone deserves a second chance. At the least, hear him out. Some people are born with stupidity. Others pick it up along the way.”
“You haven’t even met Ace. Whose side are you on?”
“That precious little baby’s side. Whether or not you and Ace resolve your differences and unload your baggage, you’re going to have to be cordial. Plus, it appears the Jamiesons are determined to be in your life. Let them. Above everything else, you’re a new creature in Christ. Let the Holy Ghost lead you.”
“I have gotten closer with his side of the family. Eva and I talk a few times a week. Although she doesn’t mention Ace directly, I can hear the whimsical tone in her voice. She’s planning activities for our babies like we live next door.”
Smiling, Gabrielle’s eyes twinkled.
“What?”
When Gabrielle shook her head, Talise continued. “Eva invited me to their next family game night. This time, she couldn’t give me her word that he wouldn’t be there.
“I really want to go too. I’m piqued by their concept of getting together once a month to play games with an African American theme. I love that idea and being around the Jamieson wives.”
“Go. You might as well get accustomed to seeing Ace. Your child is going to want to know his or her father. Besides, you live in Boston, and he lives in St. Louis. It’s not like you’ll see him every weekend.”